We have these "fake monks" in SF. I have interacted with them. The clue is that they try to give you some trinket and then immediately ask for money. I have wondered if they are organized, or if this sort of thing is individually driven, but I can't say. I got into a discussion with one of them abou...

After 26, your nadis start degenerating, 220 a week or so. Yes, and then eventually you have a Blood clot in your leg and can't even sit cross-legged anymore for any length of time. (Oops. TMI???) :smile: Oh sheesh, you developed a DVT, Cone? Being an RN, I’ve occasionally had the passing worry abo...

Not at all. Cool, thanks for the input! As an aside, what's the reasoning for such a young age cut-off for consort practice? After 26, your nadis start degenerating, 220 a week or so. Yes, and then eventually you have a Blood clot in your leg and can't even sit cross-legged anymore for any length o...

There is a subtle distinction between unwholesome deeds and deeds which are conducive to the path. Sex, alcohol, music, etc. would be things that would be advised to abstain from, but they are not naturally unwholesome. That is to say, if you don't have a particular vow to refrain from these things...

7 beef momos, with good soy sauce and home-made Tibetan Chili sauce. A nice Spring Green salad with almonds, dried cranberries and feta, and a sesame Rice vinegar "Asian" dressing. A glass and a half of Bogle Zin, And a chocolate "Flax Gluten Free" brownie thingie which was quite satisfying. Now I a...

Lamb stewed in the crockpot for several hours with potato, onion, leek, garlic, and carrot, in a veg stock with thyme and mixed herbs, paprika, and a pinch of mace. I also did some suet dumplings which cooked in the stock. I had a glass of Chateauneuf du Pape with it. I'll be over in 10, if there a...

Yes, though I think the "Crowning of the Bard" in Cymru is a wonderful thing. IN the UK we call them 'reconstructed' religions, which is maybe kinder than 'invented' but it does get ridiculous when we end up with Druid Shamans et al. Just as Buddhists may get annoyed by the Celtic Buddhist nonsense...

In all honesty, the whole (Neo) Celtic movement is amusing to me, leaving aside the Buddha Dharma's association with this stuff. the 18th and 19th century explanations regarding "Celtic Migration" into the British Isles, from Germany/Austria/Iberian Peninsula are now largely discounted. One can tal...

Can somebody point out when and which days will fall 2018's Losar for the western hemisphere? Friday 16 of February, 2018. According to IDC tibetan calendar. I've been reading on tb astrology a bit and there are 2 calendar systems: one related to the gelugpas and the other to the kagyupas. The Losa...

In all honesty, the whole (Neo) Celtic movement is amusing to me, leaving aside the Buddha Dharma's association with this stuff. the 18th and 19th century explanations regarding "Celtic Migration" into the British Isles, from Germany/Austria/Iberian Peninsula are now largely discounted. One can tal...

Btw, in the end i need oral -not from a book- instructions on Naropa's yogas, which contains the secondary practice of karmamudra, from a experienced lama/yogin, and the very best is taking Chakrasamvara initiation also, and of course integrate with the yidam. For recive this -specifically the karm...

Well, I think the term can have various meanings. Anyway, are you referring to those big black disks in his earlobes? What are those called anyway? Ear gauges, stretchers or plugs, something like that... Personally, I stick with the tattoos.........It's called 'inkikarma' . Thinking about it, my ta...

Get your hands on a copy of Kongtrul's Encyclopedia, Book Eight, Part Three: "The Elements of Tantric Practice." It's the most detailed publically available information on Mahamaya practice in English.

My root guru held the Kalacakra Tantra and practice in very high regard, and he was the most peaceful man I've known. The discussions about Shambhala and all the battle imagery, I was told, were definitely symbolic and not literal, while the contents of the "alternative Kalacakra" and esp. the instr...

i'm afraid i have to disagree with cone about developing supreme siddhi, i.e., realization, before attempting to develop common or ordinary siddhi. maybe this is a difference in p.o.v. between nyingma and karma kamtsang. various lay-jor are routinely appended to our sadhanas after completing nyen-d...

I don't know what the THL Translation tool is, but Duff's Illuminator notes that you have the "old" spelling, and that the new spelling is ye.'grogs which is "Primordial Baggage" In Tony's lingo. It's also got an alternate def. as a type of spirit mentioned in Chod.

We should understand this. I understand this, I just believe it is not relevant to the Western context and should not be the primary reasoning/motivation behind us practicing in Ngkapa lineages (or not). The same reasoning could be applied to monastic traditions in the West too, since there is not ...

All this concern and interest in clothing, status, title, is misdirection. So you believe that all people involved or interested in Ngakpa practice are in it coz it's sexy??? That is a strange conclusion to come to. I cannot really see what is sexy about three hour pujas mumbled in an incomprehensi...

I agree there's not much "use" or "market" for "Ngakpa services," but frankly speaking, I am not certain how many so-called "Ngakpas" really "Hold mantra." There are many, many rituals and services for myriad purposes, as Pemachophel has noted--but the question arises as to whether a person can effe...